Heidi Norton
Incense is used in many religions and spiritual practices, including Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Judaism, and Mandaeism. It is burned during prayer to symbolize purification and the manifestation of prayers rising to heaven. The type of incense burned varies widely, and it is commonly burned using a censer or incense burner. Incense comes in many forms, including sticks, cones, powders, and resins, with each type requiring a different method of burning. For example, direct-burning incense, such as sticks and cones, is lit directly by a flame, while indirect-burning incense, like powders and resins, requires a separate heat source, such as a piece of burning charcoal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Symbolism, purification, offering to a deity |
| Religious use | Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Christianity, Judaism, Mandaeism |
| Form | Direct burning (sticks, cones), indirect burning (powders, pastes, resins) |
| Burning method | Hand censer, swinging censer, charcoal burner |
| Timing | Morning or evening prayers, Saturday evenings, feast days, lenten periods, name days, patron saint days |
| Blessings | Holy water, prayer |
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What You'll Learn
Incense in Christianity
The use of incense in Christianity has been a topic of debate and discussion throughout history. While some Christians incorporate incense into their religious practices, others avoid it due to its historical association with pagan rituals.
Incense has been used in various religious traditions since ancient times, and its use in Christian worship has evolved over the centuries. In the early days of Christianity, the use of incense was not prevalent, as it was often associated with pagan sacrifices and honouring emperors as deities. However, by the 4th or 5th century, incense began to be incorporated into ordinary Christian worship.
The Bible provides some insights into the use of incense. For example, the Book of Revelation mentions angels using incense to offer prayers to God (Revelation 8:3-5). Additionally, Psalm 141:2 compares prayer to incense, stating, "Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice."
In Christian worship, incense is often used during Mass, particularly during the entrance procession, the proclamation of the gospel, the offertory, and the elevation of the Eucharist after consecration. The smoke from the incense is believed to symbolise the ascent of prayers to heaven, connecting the physical and the spiritual. The use of incense is also associated with purification and sanctification, symbolically cleansing the congregation and the space.
While some Christian groups embrace the use of incense, others remain cautious due to its historical connections. Some Christians believe that burning incense can be a form of worshipping the creation rather than the Creator, which goes against their faith. Additionally, the use of incense in Christian worship has been influenced by cultural and regional variations, with some churches incorporating it more frequently than others.
In conclusion, the use of incense in Christianity varies among different denominations and individuals. While some view it as a meaningful way to enhance worship and symbolise prayer, others avoid it due to its historical associations and potential conflicts with biblical interpretations. Ultimately, the decision to use incense or not is a matter of personal conviction and the specific practices of the Christian community in question.
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Incense in Judaism
The use of incense in Judaism has a long history, with references to it in ancient texts such as the Torah, the Talmud, and the Hebrew Bible. Incense was offered as a sacrifice to God and was believed to have symbolic and spiritual significance. According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, the rising smoke from burning incense was seen as a symbol or vehicle of prayer.
In ancient times, incense was offered on a special altar in the Tabernacle and in the First and Second Temple in Jerusalem. The Book of Exodus describes a recipe for sacred incense, which included sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense. The Talmud provides additional ingredients for the incense mixture, with the rabbis teaching that it should include 368 mina, corresponding to the days of the solar year.
The altar for burning incense was made of gold, symbolising the human life force, and was distinct from the copper altar used for animal sacrifices. The incense was offered in a pan ("maḥtah") carried by the priest, and it was burned in the morning and evening, as well as on special occasions like the Day of Atonement.
Today, the use of incense in Jewish prayer is not as common, although some people may choose to use it to create a sacred atmosphere or to demarcate between the secular and the holy. Some sources suggest that lighting incense specifically for prayer may be "not-our-thing" in Judaism, while others see it as a personal choice that can enhance one's religious practice.
There are also modern interpretations of the symbolic meaning of the Hebrew word for incense, "ketoret". Each letter in the word is said to allude to important values: kedusha (holiness), tahara (purity), rachamim (compassion or mercy), and tikva (hope).
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Incense in Hinduism
Incense has been used in India since 3600 BC and is an integral part of Hindu rituals and worship. The aromas of the incense sticks are considered to have healing powers that are naturally soothing and calming. The pleasant smell of incense is believed to help improve the mood and focus the mind.
In Hinduism, burning incense is symbolic and deeply meaningful. The incense sticks burn completely into ashes, but their influence is felt through the pleasant smell that fills the room. This ceremony represents the human sacrifice for the greater good. The incense sticks symbolise the abandonment of personal desires, mirroring how the incense burns itself for our benefit.
Agarbatti, commonly known as incense sticks in England, are made from bamboo sticks with perfumed paste. The incense is made from a masala, a mixture of ground ingredients. Some incense makers use Ayurvedic principles and the five different classes of ether (fruits like star anise), water (stems and branches like frankincense), earth (roots like turmeric), fire (flowers like cloves), and air (leaves like patchouli).
The burning of incense is one of the sixteen steps in the worshipping process. Incense is offered to God in his various forms, such as Krishna and Rama, by rotating the sticks thrice in a clockwise direction. This practice is derived from the Bhagavad Gita, where it is said that "Krishna accepts the offering made to Him with love".
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Incense in Buddhism
Incense holds an invaluable role in East Asian Buddhist ceremonies and rites. Burning incense is an ancient practice found in all schools of Buddhism. The use of incense in Buddhism appears to stretch back to the beginning of human history. Incense is mentioned frequently in the Pali Canon, scriptures that date to the life of the Buddha.
Incense is a sacred offering in Buddhism, used to honour the Triple Gem of the Buddha, his Dharma, and the Sangha. The fragrant smoke teaches Buddhists about the necessity of burning away negative qualities within oneself to reveal the pure self within. The aroma of incense, often derived from herbs, flowers, and other natural sources, purifies the atmosphere and inspires the development of a pure mind. The fragrance spreads far and wide, reminding the viewer of the transient nature of existence.
Offering incense at an altar is a universal Buddhist ritual. Buddhists may not always agree on the reason for burning incense, but it is thought to purify the space, whether that space is a meditation hall or one's own room. Incense can also create a tranquil mood. In some schools, incense may have a particular symbolic meaning. For example, three sticks burned together might signify the Three Treasures: the Buddha, the dharma, and the sangha.
The most common type of incense used in Buddhist temples is stick incense. There is also a kind of loose incense that is burned by dropping grains of incense onto hot charcoal. There are two kinds of stick incense: coreless or "solid" incense, and incense with a bamboo core. The coreless incense is more appropriate for Buddhism because it burns completely away, but bamboo core incense is also commonly used. In some Asian temples, huge coils of burning incense are suspended from the ceilings.
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Incense burners and methods
Incense burners, also known as censers, have been used since ancient times in various cultures and religions. They are vessels made for burning incense or perfume in solid form and can be made from a variety of materials, including earthenware, pottery, porcelain, silver, or gold.
When burning incense, it is important to use caution when handling flames and to keep incense sticks out of the reach of children and pets to avoid burns and scars. It is also important to place burning incense on a non-combustible, ash-catching plate or burner and to avoid placing it in windy areas to prevent ash from scattering.
There are several methods for burning incense, depending on the type of incense being used. For direct-burning incense, pieces of incense are placed directly on a heat source or a hot metal plate in a censer. For cone incense, a burner or a bed of ash can be used. For stick incense, an incense holder with a hole that sits on a heat-resistant dish to catch the ash is used.
Indirect-burning incense, also known as non-combustible incense, requires a separate heat source as it does not burn on its own. An example of this is resin incense, which involves placing a piece of charcoal or makko powder into the burner, lighting it, and then placing a small amount of incense on top. Another method is to use a candle censer, which involves burning incense over a candle instead of charcoal, resulting in a cleaner burn and less smoke.
In religious contexts, the use of incense burners varies. In Taoist and Buddhist temples, thick coiled incense is hung from the ceiling or placed on stands, with individual sticks of incense placed vertically into censers. In Japanese Shinto shrines and some Buddhist sects, incense sticks are placed horizontally into censers on top of the ash due to the lack of a supporting core. In mosques, incense burners do not have a liturgical use but are still part of rituals and weddings.
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Frequently asked questions
Burning incense is used in many religions and has myriad symbolic meanings. It often symbolizes purification and the physical manifestation of prayers rising to heaven.
The type of incense you use is a personal preference. You can use incense sticks, cones, powders, or pastes. If you want to be sure, you can always have your incense blessed or buy it from Catholic sources.
You can burn incense using a censer, which is a type of incense burner. If you are burning incense sticks or cones, you can light them directly with a flame and then let the embers smolder. If you are using incense powders or pastes, you will need to use a separate heat source, such as charcoal, to burn the incense.
You can burn incense at the beginning or end of your prayer, depending on your preference.
Incense is used in many religious traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Christianity, Judaism, and Mandaeism. In Christianity, for example, incense is used during mass and other moments of prayer. In Hinduism, incense is offered to God as a sacrificial offering.
